Sweet scent of recovery in West Quincy

Five months after a two-alarm fire tore through the famous Montilio's Bakery in West Quincy, destroying everything from ovens to counter tops, the city landmark has risen from the ashes. On Thursday, the sweet smell of cupcakes, cookies, and Italian pastries wafted down Adams Street once again.

"It feels good, it looks good, and our customers are happy," said owner George Montilio, 55, who scanned his store, well known for its gourmet wedding cakes, which have been featured nationally in magazines and on television.

The family-owned shop, established in 1947, also made cakes for the inaugurations of presidents John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush at the bakery's first location in Quincy Center.

In October, a fire ripped through its walls and ceilings, shutting the store down. Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the blaze.

"I'll never forget that morning," Montilio said, recalling how one of his employees called him around 5:45 a.m. to say the store was on fire. "I couldn't believe it. I was like, 'What do you mean it's on fire?' "

Yesterday, a day after the store reopened, decadent slices of chocolate rum cake, creamy layers of tiramisu, and fresh breads, pies, and colorful egg-shaped Easter cakes rested neatly in glass cases. Fixings for pizzas, calzones, and paninis sat on a counter behind them, near the shop's newly installed open fire brick oven.

The revamped store now has black marble tables for customers to dine at their leisure. A flat-screen television mounted high on the wall plays videos about how each product is made. A new cathedral-style ceiling and exposed brick walls accented with burnt orange, white, and yellow paint give the place a North End feel.

Loyal customers, many of whom donated money and effort to help Montilio rebuild, streamed through the bakery door to welcome the return of an old neighborhood friend.

"I've come here every single afternoon for more than 20 years," said Norma Glynn, an 84-year-old retiree who nibbled on a blueberry scone while sipping on some "fancy coffee," she said of the bakery's expanded flavored-coffee selections.

Glynn recalled the day 28 years ago when the bakery made her daughter a wedding cake.

"I told them that I wanted fruit cake," she said. "A wedding fruit cake, and you should have seen it. It was beautiful."

"It's good to be back" said Jim Delorey, an MBTA worker who stopped in to have a quick cup of coffee and to shake Montilio's hand.

"Everything looks great," Delorey said as he rushed out. "Plus the chow is always good."

Anthony Parlavecchio, who has lived in Quincy and has known the Montilio family for 48 years, donated his real estate services to help the bakery rebuild. Yesterday, he enjoyed the reopening with some pizza and good cheer.

"Everybody came out to help him," Parlavecchio said. "People have been waiting for him to reopen, not only because Montilio's is a great name on the South Shore, but the nation."